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F. O. JERRAM.

DUPLEX NEEDLE SEWING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 28,1891.

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P.'O. JERRA-M.

DUPLEX NEEDLE SEWING MACHINE.

No. 451,383. Patented Apr. 28, 1891.

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DUPLEX NEEDLE SEWING MACHINE.

(No-Model.)

UEEEED STATES PATENT @EEicE.

FREDERIO O. JERRAM, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

DUPLEX-NEEDLE SEWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,383, dated April 28, 1891. Application filed February 14, 1888- Serial No. 264,044. (No model.) Patented in England October 24, 1887, No. 14,430.

T 0 CLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIO O. JERRAM, of Liverpool, county of Lancaster, England, have invented new and useful Improvements 1n SewingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to improvements in sewing-machines for which I have obtained Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 14,430, of October 24:, 1887, the object of the improvements being to provide a sewing-machine in which two or more parallel rows of stitches may be sewed at the same time and at any required reasonable distance apart. The manner in which I attain this object may be best illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in sec tion, of a sewing-machine constructedin accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of the bed of the said machine, with the cover-plates and feed-plate removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse section along the line cc at, Fig. 2. In the preceding figures only so much of the mechanism is shown as is necessary to illustrate my invention, the manner of working the needle-bar, shuttle-carrier, and feed-plate being the same as in any ordinary sewing-machine. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lower end of the needle-bar, with the adjustable needle-holder removed. Fig. 5 is a similar view with the needles and needle-holders in position for sewing a double row of stitches. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the position of the needles and holders when the machine is being used to sew a single row of stitches only. Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and transverse sections, on an enlarged scale, of the adjustable presser-foot. Fig. 9 is a plan of a portion of the machine-bed, showing the form and arrangement of my improved feed-plate and cloth-plate. Fig. 10 shows in plan the two parts of the combined needle-plate and dividing-plate taken asunder- Fig. 11 is an enlarged section along line y y, Fig. 1, of the needle-holders and needle-bar. Figs. 12 and 13 details of same to the same scale; Fig. 14, a modification of needle bar and holder.

In the drawings, A is the bed of the machine; B, the arm of same; 0, the face-plate,

and D the needle-bar, provided with the usual slack-thread pin. (Not shown.)

O and O are two take-up levers of ordinary construction, one for each needle, which work through slots in the face-plate C.

C and (J are two tension-studs, one for each needle.

' The two needles E and F are attached to the needle-bar D in such a manner as to be adjustable as regards their distance apart, the material to be sewed being fed below the needles in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 2.

In machines for sewing double rows of stitches with which I am acquainted one of the needles is considerably in advance of the other one. In my machine, however, by a particular arrangement of shuttles hereinafter described, the needles E F can be attached almost in in the same line, one of them being only very slightly in advance of the other, as seen in Fig. 5. As a'consequence of this, both rows of stitches are commenced and finished almost at the same moment. In the drawings one of the needles E (hereinafter called the fixed needle is attached in the ordinary manner to the needle-bar D, being laid in a groove c therein and clamped bya plate e and screw 6 (See Fig. 11.) The other one F (hereinafter called the movable needle) is similarly located in and clamped to a sliding block, carrier, or holder F, which is adjustable horizontally in the bracket F in a direction at right angles to the rows of stitches. The position of the holder F in the bracket F that is, the position of the movable needle F relative to the fixed needle E- may be adjusted to a nicety by means of the screw-spindle f and thumb-wheel f. The needle F depends from a projecting flange f of the holder F, Fig. 11. IVhen the holder is screwed close up against the needle-bar, this flange f extends into the recess d therein, and thus renders itpossible to bring the needles very close togetherand to sew two rows of stitches at a very short distance apart. The extreme distance apart at which two rows of stitches may be sewed simultaneously depends, of course, upon the length of travel of the holder F in the bracket F The bracket F is mounted 011 thelower end of the needlebar D and is adapted to swivel therein in the direction of the rows of stitches and away from the operator, so that when it is required to sew a single row of stitches only the movable needle may be instantly turned up out of the way, as shown in Fig. 6. A stud F on the bracket F passes through the lower end of the needle-bar and serves as a pivot on which the said bracket mayswivel. As seen by Figs. 12 and 13, the stud F is formed i two pieces, the outer piece F being provided with an enlarged screw-head, by which it is screwed over the reduced screwed end of the inner piece, the two together forming one cylindrical pivot. The outer piece F is made of such a length that when it is screwed tight against the shoulder of the inner piece its screw-head will bear on the side of the needle-bar I), thus preventing any 1ongitudiual play of the bracket 011 the needlebar, while leaving the former free to turn on its pivot. \Vhen the movable needle is in use, the shoulder f of the bracket F Fig- 12, rests in the recess (1 Fig. 4:, in the needlebar and the flange f" bears against the side of the said bar and takes up a portion of the thrust due to the needle penetrating the cloth. \Vhen in position for working, and also when turned up out of the way, as shown in Fig. 6. the bracket F is securely locked by the bolt (7., which passes through a hole (1*, Fig. 4, in the needle-bar and enters corresponding holes in the bracket. The bolt (Z is attached to the end of a fiat spring dn" and is actuated by a small finger-catch d.

\Vhile the arrangement of needle bar and holder, as above described, is entirely practicable, yet I prefer to use the construction shown in Fig. 1t. In said figure the needlebar is made in two pieces. D, as before, carries the fixed needle E and D the movable needle F. Needle-bar D slides loosely in the Face-plate C and upon the face of needle-bar D, except when connected thereto by the insertion of a pin D If only one needle E be required, pin I)? is withdrawn, slide D drawn up till it is in the position shown in dotted lines, and pin I) inserted through a hole in the faceplate 0 into a hole D, as shown in dotted lines at D".

G is the presser-foot, which is attached to or formed in one with the ordinary presserbar G, the latter being placed at such a distance from the needle-bar as to allow the needle F to be turned up clear of it. (See dotted lines, Fig. (5.) The presser-footis much wider than in ordinary machines, so that it may extend below both needles. It is provided with two holes g and g, Figs. 7 and 8, through which the needles E and F pass. The holeg is permanently situated below the fixed needle E, while the hole 9 is formed in a sliding block G which may be adjusted in a slot G within the presser-foot to suit the various positions of the needle F, being afterward clamped by the set-screw 9 Referring to Figs. 2 and 10, the cloth-plate or needle plate is made in two parts ll and 1,

hereinafter termed the fixed needle-plate and the movable needle-plate. The fixed needle-plate II has in it the usual needle-hole h, through which the needle E passes, and is fixed permanently below the said needle. The needle-plate I is movable within the slot ll of the needle-plate H in the same direction as that in which the needle Fand presserfoot block are adjustable, and is provided with a needle-hole 1:, through which the said needle may pass. The way in which the movable needle-plate I is adjusted will be hereinafter described.

The sh little-plate or dividing-plate, against which the shuttles work and which is hereinafter called the shuttle-plate, is made in two pieces J and K. One piece J is fixed below the bed of the machine, being retained in position by ribs jj andcross-bars j. The other piece K is capable of being adjusted in the same direction as the movable needle F and lies in close contact with the fixed plate J. The outer end of the plate K is held against the plate J by means of a largcheaded bolt, whose head 7i; rests against the outside of the plate J, its rectangular neck passing through and working in slot 7.3, Fig. 1, therein and its cylindrical stein passing through the plate K and being secured thereto by a nut 79, Figs. and 3, or its equivalent. The position of the plate Kis adjusted by means of the thumb-wheel 7c and the screwed spindle 7.1, the latter being retained in a suitable bearing in the bed-flange A and its screwed end passing through and workiugin a similarly-screwed hole in the bolt-head In. The inner end of the plate K is maintained in contact with the plate .I by means of the shallow bevel-edged groove J, within which it slides. The fixed needleplate II is attached to or formed in one with the fixed shuttle-plate J, and the movable needle-plate I is formed in one with or rigidly attached to the movable shuttle-plate K, being adjusted by the movement of the same, though, if preferred, it might be made separate from the plate K and have an independent adjusting device. Below each needlehole 71. i, and cut in the outer surfaces of the shuttle-{dates .T K, are the usual needlegrooves h t", Fig. 1, the one h being fixed and the other i being of course adjustable with the plates I and K. The shuttle-plates .I K are made thin as possible, so that the distance between their shuttle-faces is reduced to a minimum, and the needles can consequently be placed almost in a line.

The two shuttles I1 and M are carried in the usual manner in cradles I. and M. Both these cradles are mounted on the carrier N, which is caused to reciprocate in guides N in a direction at right angles to the rows of stitches, and is actuated in the usual manner by a pitinan 0, working on a stud N. The shuttles are maderightand left handed, so as to reciprocate face to face against the shuttleplates,as shown in Fig. 2. The cradle Il,carryin g the shuttle L, is fixed rigidly to the carrier N, while the cradle M ,with the shuttle M, is made adjustable thereon in the same direction as the needle F. The cradle M is fixed to or forms part of a sole-plate M which slides in a shallow groove in the carrier Nand against its fla1'1ge-N ,as seenin Fig. 3. This soleplate is provided with a longitudinal slot m, through which a pinching-screw it passes, by which the plate is secured in position when adjusted. The top edge of the cradle M or of the flange N is graduated, so that the position of the shuttle M relative to the needle F can be adjusted to a nicety. When the distance between the rows of stitches is altered, the position of the cradle M, with its shuttle M, is altered on the carrier N,so that without altering the length of stroke of the latter the shuttles may remain in the same position relatively as the needles. The greatest amount of adjustment of which the shuttle M is capable is equal to the greatest distance between the rows of stitches which are required to be sewed. When two rows of stitches are sewed very closely together, the shuttles will be nearly abreast; but when the distance between the rows is increased then the shuttle M is moved the required distance on its carrier N, the throw or stroke of the latter remaining, of course, unaltered.

The feed-plate P, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 9, is made tofeed at the front, back, and sides, and for this purpose it is made open, and the needle-plates H and I placed within it.

The mode of actuating the feed-plate is the same as used in ordinary machines. It desired, four or more shuttles, needles, 850., may be used, so as to produce four or more rows of stitches.

I claim as my invention 1. In a sewing-machine, and in combination, a suitable needle-carrying bar consisting of two parts, one sliding vertically upon the other, means for clamping the two parts together in working position, a needle attached to one bar and adapted to be held in a'uniform position, a bracket attached to the sliding bar, a block sliding in said bracket, a needle secured to said block, means for adjusting the block on the bracket, and means for adjusting the position of the sliding bar.

2. In a seWing-machine,and in combination, a suitable needle-carrying bar consisting of two parts D and D, a needle E, carried by the part D, the part D sliding vertically on the part D, said parts D D being provided with a series of holes,pins adapted for insertion in said holes, whereby the sliding bar may be adjusted, a bracket attached to said sliding bar, and a horizontally-adj ustable needle-carrying block on said bracket.

3. The combination, with a fixed needle E presser-foot G, having needle-hole g, and fixed needle-plate H, having needle-hole 72, ot' a second needle F, a piece G sliding upon 1 said presser-foot and having a needle-hole g,

and needle-plate I, having needle-hole i, said needle F, plate G and plate I being arranged vertically one over the other and each adj ustable longitudinally, substantially as described.

l. The combination, with the fixed needle E and adjustable needle F, of a shuttle-plate lying directly below said needles transversely to the direction of feed and formed of two plates J K, the plate J being fixed and having a groove h in its face for the passage of the needle E, and the plate K being adjustable longitudinally upon the plate J and provided on its face with a groove 7: for the passage of the needle F, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the fixed needleE and adjustable needle F, of a shuttle-plate lying directly below said needles transversely ,to the direction of feed and formed of a fixed plate J and of a movable plate K, adjustable longitudinally thereon, a needle plate H, mounted on the fixed plate J and having a hole It for the passage of the needle E, and a second needle-plate I, mounted on plate K and having a hole 'ifor the passage of needle F, substantially as described.

b. In combination with the fixed needle E and adjustable needle F, the fixed shuttleplate J, having groove h for the passage of needle E, the adjustable shuttle-plate K, having groove 2" for the passage of needle F, the needle-plate H, mounted on plate J and having needle-hole it directly above groovev h, the needle-plate I, mounted within the plate H upon plate K and having a needle-hole '5v directly above the groove 1', and means for effecting the longitudinal adjustment of the plates I and K with respect to the plates II and J respectively, substantially as described.

7. In combination with the needlesE and F, the plates J K, having grooves h i, respectively, plates H I, having holes h i, respectively, and mounted, as described, upon the plates J K, headed stud 70, working in slot 7c in plate J and fixed to plate K, adjust-ingscrew journaled in the screwed head of said stud, and dovetail plate-guides J, substantially as described.

8. The needle-bar D, needle E, stationary thereon, stationary shuttle-plate J, reciprocatory shuttle-carrier N, having rigidly fixed thereon the cradle L, and shuttle L, mounted in said cradle and adapted to work against the face of plate J, in combination with the second needle F, carried by bar D, shuttleplate K, lying against plate J, and shuttlecradle M, movably mounted on said carrier N and having a shuttle L, adapted to work against the plate K, the needle F, plate K, and cradle 1V being each adjustable hori zontally in a direct-ion at right angles to the line of stitches and parallel to the shuttleraces, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a fixed needle E, presser-foot G, having needle-hole g, and a fixed needle-plate I-I, having needle-hole 72 of a second needle F, a piece G sliding upon the presser-foot and having needle-hole g, nee- In testimony whereof I have signed my (lle- )late I havins; needle-hole 2' said needle name to this s )eeifieation in the )resence 0f 1 k 7 l )late G- and )late I beln arran ed vertwo snbseribnw wltnesses.

1 a l n a c tieally one over the other and each adjust- F. O. JERRAM. 5 able horizontally, and an enlarged feed-plate Witnesses:

P, entirely surrounding the plates l1 and I, \VMT. P. THOMPSON,

substantially as described. G. O. DYMOND. 

